Japanese youngster Ai Ogura (Aprilia) set the final day of Sepang testing alight, showing that he has more to offer than might be expected of a MotoGP rookie. With a time of 1:57.754, he improved his best time from the previous day by more than 0,8 seconds. Finishing 14th, 1,261 seconds behind leader Alex Marquez, Ogura let his joy and frustration burst forth in one breath…
The Japanese jrookie Ai Ogura made a promising MotoGP debut at the Sepang trialsDespite some difficulties, he quickly found his bearings and showed interesting potential.
Ai Ogura, the team's Japanese rookie TrackHouse Aprilia, closed the Sepang tests on a positive note, showing a clear improvement on the final day. He was able to take advantage of the last few hours of testing to focus on the search for pure performance. I knew Friday was the right day to chase times ", did he declare. “ I still had plenty of new tires available in the last 30 minutes and I wanted to improve. After my 1'57 lap, I got stuck at one point and couldn't improve any further. I am a little disappointed about that, but overall it was good »
This progression demonstrates the young rider's ability to adapt, having quickly assimilated the specificities of MotoGP after years spent in Moto2, enhanced by the last world title. On Thursday, he focused on long laps to better understand tire management, a crucial step in his learning. On Friday I focused 80% on the timed times and not on the race pace. After yesterday's race simulation I also improved a lot " he added, visibly satisfied with his progress.
Si Ogura impressed with his speed, he acknowledges that there are still areas for improvement, particularly in braking. However, Davide Brivio, the boss of the TrackHouse team, praised the Japanese's performance in this area. Compared to other drivers, braking was a major problem for me. I don't know why he said that " joked Ogura.
Ai Ogura: “ I still had plenty of room to brake harder, I am still too cautious »
« But it was good, especially in the high-speed corners. Turns 4 and 7 were okay, but in the first and last corner, after a long straight, I still had a lot of room to brake harder. For me, braking is always complicated. compared to the bike I had last year " mentions the Japanese on speedweek.
The transition to carbon brakes, used in MotoGP, represents a technical challenge for the rookie. Ogura still wonders how to optimize their use. It could be anything, but from what I can see in the data, I'm still being overly cautious, especially with the pressure I'm putting on the front brake - I could do more, but When I'm on the bike, I think I shouldn't do more He explained.
Despite these challenges, the performance ofOgura during these first tests are encouraging. His rapid adaptation and his ability to progress day after day demonstrate that he has the potential to shine in MotoGP. With the support of his team and the advice of Davide Brivio, the Japanese should continue to refine his skills, particularly in braking and tire management.
The next tests and the first races of the season will allow us to see if Ogura can confirm this good start and establish himself as one of the revelations of the year 2025. One thing is certain: the Japanese rookie has already shown that he has the determination and talent to compete with the best.
MotoGP, Sepang J3 Test, Final: times
